CREAM Project Team, BOSCO Bengaluru, participated in the Training programme of CREAM- Phase 3 organized by BREADS, Bengaluru at Don Bosco Provincial House, Bengaluru, from December 1-3, 2020. Fr. K. C. Sebastian, Rector, Don Bosco Provincial House welcomed the gathering. Fr. Joy Nedumparambil, Executive Director, BREADS in his introductory message said that CREAM project works in collaboration with the Government and tries to strengthen the Government programmes for children. Fr. Antony Sebastian, Chairperson, KSCPCR in his inaugural message said, “In Phase 4, I wish CREAM to cover all the districts of Karnataka and KSCPCR will be happy to join hands.” Mr. Soni Kutty, Child Rights Specialist, UNICEF addressing the gathering said, “We need to network to resolve the issues faced. We can make the difference together.” Fr. Jose Koyickal, Vice-Provincial, Bengaluru Province quoted the famous saying, “When the going is tough, the tough gets going.” He said that the Salesian world is happy to present CREAM. We have to instil self-esteem, self-confidence and hope in children.

Mr. Soni Kutty, introduced UNICEF to the group. He said that activities such as Grama Sabha, Child Rights Clubs etc., should be organised to provide opportunity for children to participate. Legislation of laws and the mechanisms such as CWC, CHILDLINE, DCPU, CMPO, SJPU were explained. It was suggested that CREAM 3 should emphasize on positive parenting. Fr. Rubin Mathew, Assistant Director, BREADS, presented Don Bosco National Job Placement Network. www.donboscojobs.org, a website and Jobs DBI, mobile app. Key features of the Website was shared and poster was distributed.

Fr. Joy Nedumparambil, explained the baseline survey reporting format, monthly reporting format and the impact indicators through a presentation. The 20 project locations were shared. Major activities of the project were explained. Targets per year were shared. Mr. Manjappa, State Coordinator, presented a ppt on Children Grama Panchayat amendments.

Mr. Benny Augustine, Manager, Projects, BREADS explained about the advocacy action, reporting format, MIS-Management Investigation System, details of child protection systems in a Panchayath required, District, Taluk, Panchayath wise SDMC, CPC, Bala Vikas Committee, Village Justice Committee etc. The teams from different districts shared about the existing advocacy activities in their respective districts. Roles and responsibilities of the CREAM staff members were shared.

In the Valedictory program Fr. Joy Nedumparambil wished that the learnings would be turned into action. Fr. P. S. George, Economer, Don Bosco Provincial House, Bengaluru Province wished that advocacy would be taken up on a war footing. Thirty-three participants from Don Bosco Mysore, Ramanagara, Davangere and Chitradurga and BOSCO Bengaluru, participated in the programme.